Suncor Energy String Fellowship Program
Suncor Energy, in partnership with the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra and the School of Music at Memorial University has created an innovative string fellowship program that combines professional development with graduate training in performance and service to the community. Through a generous donation to the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, Suncor Energy will provide a fellowship worth $24,000 (over two years) to each of the four players. When combined with funding from the School of Graduate Studies at Memorial University, the players will be exceptionally well supported in their studies. The deadline for applying to graduate programs at Memorial University is December 15.
Each year over the next four years, the fellowships will support the professional development of two violinists, one violist, and one cellist. This quartet will play a full season with the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra while undertaking their Master of Music degrees at Memorial University. The idea is the brainchild of Peter Gardner, artistic director of the NSO, who stated that “one of the special aspects of the program is its emphasis on community engagement, since the quartet will do regular youth workshops in local schools and mentor young string players while playing a full season with the NSO.” Dr. Michelle Cheramy, Associate Director of Graduate Studies and Research at the School of Music feels that "The Suncor Energy String Fellowship Program is an opportunity truly unique in professional music training in Canada. It is a rare chance to polish professional performance skills while learning the arts of advocacy, mentorship and community engagement AND continuing one’s own development as a musician in graduate study with the outstanding string faculty in the School of Music."
More details about the Suncor Energy String Fellowship program may be found at http://www.mun.ca/nsosuncorstrings/.
